Kurosawa Classics Summer Series at Symphony Space

Symphony Space presents high-definition screenings of the classic films of Akira Kurosawa. The masterful Japanese director's films appear on the big screen in this series, which opens with Yojimbo, the story of a wandering samurai who hires himself out as a bodyguard in a village at war. Toshiro Mifune, the star of Yojimbo, also stars in 1963's rarely seen High and Low, the story of a a wealthy industrialist whose family becomes the target of a cold-blooded kidnapper. The series also features two of Kurosawa's most influential early films: 1950's Stray Dog, one of Japan's earliest and greatest detective films, and 1959's The Hidden Fortress, whose story of a general and two peasants' attempt to rescue a fugitive princess in acknowledged as one of the main inspirations behind Star Wars. The series closes with Kurosawa's masterpiece Rashomon, which examines a crime from the points of view of the four people involved.

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August 7, 2011: Yojimbo

1962, Akira Kurosawa, Japan, Black & White

Wandering ronin Mifune realizes a skilled Yojimbo (bodyguard) could rake in the ryo in a small town. And after checking out the sake merchant’s thugs squaring off against the silk merchant’s goon squad, twice as much, if he hires out to both sides.

August 13, 2011: High and Low

1963, Akira Kurosawa, Japan, Black & White, 142 mins

Toshiro Mifune is unforgettable as Kingo Gondo, a wealthy industrialist whose family becomes the target of a cold-blooded kidnapper in Akira Kurosawa’s highly influential High and Low, a compelling race-against-time thriller and a penetrating portrait of contemporary Japanese society.

August 14, 2011: The Hidden Fortress

1959, Akira Kurosawa, Japan, Black & White, 139 minutes

Two constantly bickering farmers on the run from clan wars are dragooned by General Toshiro Mifune into aiding his rescue of fugitive princess Misa Uehara and her family’s hidden gold. Acknowledged by many as one of the inspirations behind Star Wars!

August 27, 2011: _*Stray Dog

*_1950, Akira Kurosawa, Japan, Black & White, 122 minutes

During a sweltering summer, a rookie homicide detective tries to track down his stolen Colt pistol. Kurosawa adapts his unpublished novel for his first detective film, which ultimately leads to the creation of the popular Japanese crime film genre.

August 28, 2011: Rashomon

1950, Akira Kurosawa, Japan, Black & White, 88 minutes

Brimming with action while incisively examining the nature of truth, _Rashomon _is perhaps the finest film ever made about the philosophy of justice. Through an ingenious use of camera and flashbacks, Kurosawa reveals the complexities of human nature as four people recount different versions of the same story: the murder of a man and the rape of his wife. Starring Toshiro Mifune in another commanding performance, Rashomon revolutionized film language and introduced Japanese cinema to the world.

About the Ticket Supplier: Symphony Space

Symphony Space fosters artistically and culturally diverse performing arts, literary, and film programs that bring artists and audiences together in an atmosphere of exploration and intimacy. It reaches audiences throughout New York City, the wider metropolitan area, and through distribution of programs via media such as radio, recordings, podcasts and touring.